Quick release mechanism for slide fasteners



FUEY E E957 P. J. CONNOLLY ETAL 3,33Ll07 QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR SLIDE FSTENERS Filed OCT.. 2l, 1965 United States Patent iiice 3,331,107 Patented July 18, 1967 3,331,107 QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Patrick I. Connolly, Medtield, and Michael M. Arslanian, West Newton, Mass., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 500,437 5 Claims. (Cl. 2li-205.11)

ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A device for releasably holding the starting ends of a quick release slide fastener, consisting of separate bracket members positioned on opposite sides of the fastener to engage the outside lateral edges of a number of scoop pairs comprising the starting ends, the bracket members being releasably held together by a tongue attached to one member which extends between the bracketed scoop pairs and through an opening in the other bracket member. A retractable pin is inserted into an aperture in the portion of the tongue which extends beyond the bracket member which serves to releasably hold the components together.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to a releasable connecting mechanism for use in conjunction with slide fasteners. More particularly this invention relates to a mechanism which is adapted in its operative or locked condition to hold in a fixed position the starting ends of a quick release slide fastener and is adapted to be easily rendered inoperative releasing said starting ends permitting the coupled stringers of the slide fastener to be separated.

Quick release slide fasteners are commonly used where it is desired to accomplish substantially end to end release of the coupled stringers without the aid of a slider. When one or more pairs of opposed scoops or claws of the otherwise coupled stringers remain uncoupled, any lateral force tending to pull the stringers apart will cause the remaining interlocked scoops to separate consecutively lengthwise along the fastener. The uncoupled pairs of scoops constitute the so-called starting end of the quick release slide fastener. One of the uses of such quick release slide fasteners is in connection with air supported building structures which are constructed of separate sections which must be joined together -by means which will permit the almost instantaneous separation and collapse of the assembled and erected structure. A device of some sort, however, must be employed to restrain the starting ends of quick release slide fasteners when used in such iniiated structures to prevent the separation of the coupled stringers which are under a constant tension urging them apart. Several different types of connective mechanisms are known which will function to restrain the starting ends and which can be disengaged at will to permit the separation of the fastener. These mechanisms, however, have one serious shortcoming in that it is possible to render operational the connective mechanism While it is improperly positioned with respect to the metallic scoops of the complementary stringers, for example, the mechanism may be locked While riding on top of the scoops rather than bearing against and restraining the opposed outside edges of the scoops. In this position the mechanism will normally restrain the starting ends until some unusual strain is applied to the stringers causing them to be pulled free from the connective mechanism and to undergo a premature separation often damaging the slide fastener and the fabric of the inated structure. In addition, the mechanisms of the prior art have had to rely on spring devices to open the mechanism and have had to cooperate with grommet guides in the fabric of the structure in order to be properly positioned and rendered operational.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple, durable and reliable mechanism which will releasably hold the starting ends of a quick release slide fastener.

Itis also an object to provide a mechanism which will meet the aforesaid object and which is so constructed as to be physically incapable of being improperly assembled about the starting ends. f

Another object is to provide an improved connective mechanism that will releasably hold the starting ends of a quick release slide fastener, which does not require mechanical aids to release the restraint on the stn'ugers other than withdrawal of a simple locking means and which functions independently of the fabric structure.

These and other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View partially in section ofthe connective mechanism of the present -invention in operative or locked position;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the upper member of the device shown in FIGURE 1 partially broken away to show the construction of the channel;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the underside of the lower member ofthe device shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the starting ends of the quick release slide fastener.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts throughout the several views and, more particularly, to FIGURE 1 there lis shown the quickly releasable connective mechanism of the present invention which consists of two separable members, an upper and a lower member designated generally by numerals 10 and 20 respectively. In this figure the upper and lower members are shown in their operative position maintaining the starting ends of the quick release slide fastener in a fixed opposed relation.

Upper member 10 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is essentially a rectangular rigid plate that is channel shaped in transverse section. The channel configuration in our preferred embodiment is a relatively shallow U shaped channel comprising side walls 11 `and 12 and a base 13 with the side walls 11 and 12 spaced apart to permit the interlocked scoops of the fastener to be positioned therebetween. When properly positioned with respect to the slide fastener the side walls 11 and 12 bracket and engage the outside edges of the scoop pairs 33 and 34 on one side of the fastener. In order to facilitate release of the starting ends, the lower half of the inwardly facing side surfaces of each of the side walls 11 and 12 are beveled as shown in IFIGURE l. Extending downwardly from the base 13 midway between the side walls and midway between the ends thereof is an elongate, flat tongue 14 having an aperture 15 therein. The tongue is relatively narrow in its side dimension but relatively wide in its frontal dimension which is parallel with the side walls. An upwardly extending projection 16 serves to facilitate handling of the upper member and contains an aperture 17 therein through which a cord (not shown) may be connected so as to tie the upper member to some part of the structure to prevent loss thereof upon separation of the connecting mechanism.

Lower member 20 which cooperates with the upper member 10 to form connective mechanism of this invention is a rigid substantially square plate which is as wide as the upper member but somewhat longer as viewed from the side in FIGURE 1. As viewed in this ligure, the upper portion of the forward end of the lower member is channel shaped in transverse section having side walls 21 and 22 which are spaced apart and as deep as the side walls 11 and 12 of the upper member and have the upper half of each of their inwardly facing sidesurfaces similarly beveled. Approximately mid-way between the ends of the channel and between the side walls thereof is located an opening or slot 24 which extends downwardly from the base 23 of the channel to the opposite side or bottom surface of the lower member. Slot 24 is located and dimensioned so as to receive the tongue 14 when the side walls of the upper and lower members are in opposed relation as shown in FIGURE l. A groove 25 is provided in the bottom surface of the lower member and extends lengthwise along the midline thereof perpendicular to the channel and through the slot 24. Located within the -groove 25 is a latch pin 26 made of resilient =wire. The latch pin has a straight upper portion which extends beyond the rear edge of the lower member forming a loop and continues in a forward direction under the upper portion, terminating in a humped portion 27. A bar 28 fixed to the bottom surface of the lower member perpendicular to the axis of the ygroove holds the latch pin within the groove and prevents withdrawal of the pin therefrom.

A typical starting end is illustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein the quick release fastener is designated generally by the numeral 30, and the complementary slide fastener stringers identified as 31 and 32. Several of the scoops, identified as 33 and 34, on stringers 31 and 32 respectively have had their interlocking portions ground off thereby preventing these scoops from coupling when the stringers are joined by the slider. Due to the presence of these starting ends, any force tending to urge the two stringers apart will cause the scoops to consecutively disengage starting at the point where the scoops are not interlocked or coupled and proceeding in either direction along the fastener until all the scoops are disengaged or the force urging them apart is expended.

The operation of the quick release connective mechanism of the present invention which was designed for use in connection with ai-r-erected and supported building structures of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,190,299, but is obviously not limited to such use, will -now be described. The aforesaid structure consists of two fabric sections releasably connected by a slide fastener of the quick release type which extends along the ridge line of the inflated structure. At some point, intermediate the ends of this slide fastener are located the starting ends. After the slider is drawn along the fastener to a point just beyond the starting ends coupling the scoops of the complementary stringers, our quick release connective mechanism is fastened in -place about the starting ends and thereafter the remainder of the fastener is coupled. In FIGURE l stringers 31 and 32 of the coupled fastener are shown in section. Upper member l is positioned against the upper surface of the fastener with the tongue 14 thereof passing between the starting ends, i.e., between the uncoupled scoops, and the side walls 11 4and 12 of the upper member are positioned so as to bracket and engage the outside edges of the scoop pairs 33 and 34. Lower member is positioned against the opposite or lower surface of the fastener with its side walls 21 and 22 similarly bracketing and engaging the outside edges of the `scoop pairs on the underside. In this position, the upper and lower -members are disposed in opposed relation on opposite sides of the coupled fastener with the channel portion of each member facing each other and with their respective side walls straddling the scoops of the opposed fastener stringers. The lower member is positioned with respect to the upper member so that the tongue 14 of the latter passes between the uncoupled scoops of the starting ends and extends into the slot 24 of the former. The positioning of the tongue within the slot prevents any movement or rotation of one of the members independently of .4 the other. The aperture opening 15 in the tongue is now in position so that the straight upper portion of the latch pin 26 :can be inserted therein. The humped portion 27 of the latch pin serves as a detent by cooperating with the apical portion of the tongue to prevent accidental dislodging of the pin from its locking position in the aperture opening 15 but permitting `withdraw-al upon the application of sufficient force. With the quick release mechanism in its operative condition straddling and bracketing the starting ends of the fastener, the starting ends are thereby prevented from undergoing any lateral separation which would uncouple the adjacent coupled pairs.

It should be noted that the size of the aperture 15 and its location on the tongue r14 are such that the latch pin 26 can only be inserted therein when the upper and lower members bracket and engage the outside edges of the fastener scoops. The change in spatial relationship that occurs when the opposed members ride on the scoops rather than bracket them is sufficient to prevent the aperture on the tongue from extending suiiciently into the groove to permit insertion of the latch pin. As a consequence, improper assembly of the connective mechanism of this invention about the slide fastener is physically impossible.

Quick release of the connective mechanism of our invention from its operative position about the starting ends of the quick release slide fastener is accomplished by merely withdrawing the latch pin from the aperture. A pull cord is normally tied to the loop of the pin so as to facilitate release of the mechanism from some convenient point. Upon withdrawal of the pin, the lower member can fall free under the influence of gravity or can be pulled free by the pull cord. The upper member will be pushed off the scoops as they move in opposite directions as a result of the tension or stress exerted on the separate sections by the air pressure within the inilated structure. Thus, when the releasable connective device holding the starting ends is released, the slide fastener stringers 31 and 32 are free to separate or part in opposite directions from the region of the ground-off scoops 33 and 34.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. It is desired, therefore, by the following claims, to include within the scope of the invention all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of the invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

We claim:

1. A mechanism for releasably holding the starting ends of a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers, comprising separable upper and lower retaining members, each of said retaining members are of channel shape in transverse section with the side lwalls of the channels of each member spaced apart to bracket and engage the outside edges of a plurality of scoop pairs on opposite sides of said complementary slide fastener stringers, said upper retaining member having `a tongue thereon intermediate said channel walls adapted to extend downwardly below said channel walls and -to extend between the starting ends of said slide fastener stringers when the channel walls of said upper member engage the outside edges of the scoop pairs on the upper surface of the complementary stringers,

said lower retaining member having a slotted opening therein intermediate its side walls dimensioned and V1ocated so as to receive said tongue therein, and a pin member movably attached to said lower member and projectt able into and retractable from an aperture located in said tongue rwhen the side walls of said upper and lower retaining members are respectively in engagement with and bracket the outside edges of the scoop pairs on opposite sides of the coupled fastener Stringer.

2. A mechanism for releasably holding the starting ends of a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers, comprising separable upper and lower retaining members, each of said members havin-g spaced lapart parallel side-Walls which bracket and engage the outside edges of a plurality of scoop pairs on opposite sides of the coupled stringers, one of said retaining members having a tongue located intermediate said side walls and projectable between the starting ends of said coupled stn'ngers, the other of said retaining members having an opening to receive said tongue, and having ylocking means associated therewith, said locking means projectable into and retractable from an aperture located in said tongue only when each of said retaining members are respectively in engagement with and bracket the outside edges of the scoop pairs on `opposite sides of the coupled fastener stringers.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said locking means consists of a latching pin which is movably attached to said tongue receiving retaining member.

4. A mechanism according to claim 2 rwherein said tongue extends through said tongue receiving member and said locking means is lmovably attached to the underside of said tongue receiving retaining member.

'5. A mechanism according 'to claim 2 wherein said locking means and said aperture are located and dimensioned so as to be in register when said retaining members are Vdisposed in close sandwiching relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,192 8/ 1948 Poux. 3,049,780 8/ 1962 Llorens. 3,122,808 3/1964 Maschi.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,103,057 3/ 1961 Germany.

`887,552 1/1962 Great Britain.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING THE STARTING ENDS OF A PAIR OF COMPLEMENTARY SLIDE FASTENER STRINGERS, COMPRISING SEPARABLE UPPER AND LOWER RETAINING MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID RETAINING MEMBERS ARE OF CHANNEL SHAPE IN TRANSVERSE SECTION WITH THE SIDE WALLS OF THE CHANNELS OF EACH MEMBER SPACED APART TO BRACKET AND ENGAGE THE OUTSIDE EDGES OF A PLURALITY OF SCOOP PAIRS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID COMPLEMENTARY SLIDE FASTENER STRINGERS, SAID UPPER RETAINING MEMBER HAVING A TONGUE THEREON INTERMEDIATE SAID CHANNEL WALLS ADAPTED TO EXTEND DOWNWARDLY BELOW SAID CHANNEL WALLS AND TO EXTEND BETWEEN THE STARTING ENDS OF SAID SLIDE FASTENER STRINGERS WHEN THE CHANNEL WALLS OF SAID UPPER MEMBER ENGAGE THE OUTSIDE EDGES OF THE SCOOP PAIRS ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE COMPLEMENTARY STRINGERS, SAID LOWER RETAINING MEMBER HAVING A SLOTTED OPENING THEREIN INTERMEDIATE ITS SIDE WALLS DIMENSIONED AND LOCATED SO AS TO RECEIVE SAID TONGUE THEREIN, AND A PIN MEMBER MOVABLY ATTACHED TO SAID LOWER MEMBER AND PROJECTABLE INTO AND RETRACTABLE FROM AN APERTURE LOCATED IN SAID TONGUE WHEN THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER RETAINING MEMBERS ARE RESPECTIVELY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH AND BRACKET THE OUTSIDE EDGES OF THE SCOOP PAIRS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE COUPLED FASTENER STRINGER. 